Polls have closed in a by-election in England where Reform UK leader Nigel Farage faced off against perennial joke candidate Count Binface, alongside dozens of other fringe contenders. The vote in the Clacton constituency of eastern Essex was triggered by Farage's resignation from the parliamentary seat he had held since 2024, citing an investigation into his finances.
The election was notably boycotted by the country's main political parties, including the ruling Labour party, with some residents dismissing the event as a "farce." This lack of mainstream candidates allowed figures like Count Binface, the alter ego of comedian Jon Harvey, to capture significant attention. Binface posted on X, "Bin day cometh," on the day of the vote, though he had not been seen in Clacton since polls opened.
Some voters expressed frustration with the boycott, with local resident Paul calling it a "farce" and accusing mainstream parties of "disrespecting the people of Clacton." Visibility of "I'm with Farage" signs was low, and even some Reform UK volunteers described the polls as "a bit ridiculous," suggesting the election was primarily a platform for Farage.
A record 33 fringe candidates, including Binface, were registered to vote. At one polling station, a sample ballot paper listing all the contenders was observed to be taller than most voters.
Farage, whose party had previously topped national polls for 18 months, announced his resignation on July 7 amid an ongoing probe into his finances by the parliamentary sleaze watchdog. The investigation concerns allegations that he and Reform's deputy, Richard Tice, failed to declare financial gifts, which they deny.
Farage has characterized the by-election as a contest between "the people of Clacton versus the Establishment," aimed at countering what he calls a "stitch-up" regarding his finances. He stated in a video released before casting his vote that "The people of Clacton should be the judges of my actions."
However, some local voters and political analysts have downplayed the election's significance. Clacton voter Phil predicted it would "not change anything," noting that the parliamentary probe would resume if Farage won. Political scientist John Curtice suggested it would be "astonishing if Farage were not to win" in a constituency that strongly backed Brexit a decade ago.
Concerns have been raised that Farage's election gambit may have backfired, coinciding with a recent slip in Reform UK's national poll standings. Professor Stijn van Kessel of Queen Mary University of London commented that the resulting spectacle "makes Farage look rather silly" and that his plan to make it a "serious political battle failed."
Farage previously secured 46% of the vote in the 2024 general election, becoming an MP on his eighth attempt. Turnout, which was nearly 59% in 2024, was expected to be significantly lower among the constituency's 80,000 registered voters due to the absence of major party candidates.
The investigation into Farage, which paused upon his resignation, relates to a £5 million (€5.8 million) donation from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne. London police also confirmed last year they had begun an investigation into donations made to Reform UK before the 2024 election, reportedly concerning non-declared financial support from George Cottrell and his mother.
Vote counting has commenced, with a result anticipated around 7:00 am local time on Friday.
The boycott left some voters in the town of Clacton-on-Sea fuming.
"It's a bit ridiculous," party campaigner Jane Embelton told the AFP news agency.
